Arthur P. Bagby, Jr.

Arthur Pendleton Bagby Jr. (May 17, 1833 – February 21, 1921) was an American lawyer, editor, and Confederate States Army colonel during the American Civil War. Confederate General E. Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department assigned Bagby to duty as a brigadier general on April 13, 1864, to date from March 17, 1864, and as a major general on May 16, 1865. These extra-legal appointments were not made official by appointments of Bagby to general officer grade by Confederate President Jefferson Davis or by confirmation by the Confederate Senate.

Early life Bagby was born in Claiborne, Alabama, on May 17, 1833. He was a son of Alabama Governor Arthur P. Bagby and his second wife, Anne Connell. second lieutenant of infantry in the 8th U.S. Infantry Regiment. He was stationed at Fort Columbus in 1852-53, and he saw frontier duty at Fort Chadbourne in 1853. Bagby resigned on September 30, 1853 There, he married Frances Taylor and Battle of Glorieta Pass, Bagby's men served on garrison duty in southern New Mexico towns. Bagby was promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 4, 1862.

Bagby was promoted to colonel on November 15, 1862. Smith assigned Bagby to duty as a brigadier general on April 13, 1864, to rank from March 17, 1864.

Bagby's cavalry brigade was renowned as one of the best in the Trans-Mississippi Department. Bagby commanded a brigade under Brigadier General Hamilton P. Bee for a time before replacing Bee in command in mid-May 1864. In September 1864, Bagby was given command of a new brigade of three Texas cavalry regiments in the 2nd Cavalry Division. Smith had no authority to promote officers to general grades and the Confederate President and Senate were no longer able to appoint or confirm general officers in May 1865.

Aftermath and death After the war, Bagby settled in Victoria, Texas, resumed practicing law, and was in 1870–1871 assistant editor of the local newspaper, the Victoria Advocate. He later moved to Hallettsville, Texas, where he continued his law practice and became a prominent member of the state bar. He had two children, William Taylor Bagby and A. P. Bagby.

Arthur Pendleton Bagby Jr. was the last surviving member of his West Point class. He died in Hallettsville, Texas, on February 21, 1921. He is buried in Hallettsville City Cemetery.